Once upon a
time, a
craftsman dived
into a lake and
underneath the
water discovered
some beautiful
coloured marble.
He came back up
and then using a
tool took out a
piece of the
beautiful marble.
Then, enchanted
with his chunk
of marble, he
decided to make
a beautiful
piece of art.
But the marble
suffered when he
realised that
the burin, an
instrument with
a steel tip to
cut stone,
really hurt as
it was used to
carve out pieces
of him and he
scream out of
fear and pain.
The man who made
him suffer,
because of the
changes he was
making in the
marble, did not
realise the pain
that the stone
felt. And the
piece of marble,
in despair,
cried out
against his own
destiny,
speaking with
God, Father of
all creatures:
- Oh, how can
you allow it,
Lord, that this
man take my
flesh from me to
use as a piece
of art and to
expose me to
everyone as if I
were nothing?
And the Lord
said to him:
|
 |
- My
dear
piece of
marble,
you are
too
beautiful
to be
forgotten
somewhere
enclosed
while
your
qualities
are
unknown
to the
world.
- But,
Lord, I
suffer
horribly!
This man
has no
mercy on
me!...
He
breaks
my flesh
as if I
were an
ordinary
stone! I
am a
miserable
sufferer.
Will no
one
defend
me,
helping
me to
rid
myself
of this
wicked
man who
does not
think of
my
suffering? |
The Father
stroked his long
white beard,
thoughtfully,
then smiled.
- Beloved son!
Pain is always a
blessing that
leads us to
understand our
need of
atonement which
we all have.
Through
suffering my
children learn
to value life
better.
- Ah!... But
what is
atonement,
Beloved Father?
The Father
smiled at His
son's question
and explained:
- My dear son,
the artist uses
the burin to
make the stone
even more
beautiful
through
suffering and
pain. Thus when
the artist
finishes his
work the stone
will be very
different from
before and will
be admired by
all!
- You mean
suffering will
make me better,
Lord?
- No doubt, my
son. Suffering
and pain are our
friends, making
us better and
more beautiful
after the
experience to
which the artist
invites us.
The little block
of marble
hearing those
words sighed
deeply,
accepting the
need to
suffering.
- If it is so,
thank you,
Father. I will
no longer
complain about
the burin.
And so the piece
of marble, which
was rough and
brute despite
its beauty,
accepted God's
instructions,
bowed his head
and remained
silent as the
pain dropped
tears but
without further
complaint.
The Almighty
Father left and
the little piece
of marble
accepted his
fate without
complaining.
Faced with
suffering, he
just let the
tears flow
through his body
as it cleansed
him. Now he was
sure he deserved
the pain to
become better.
For many days
the artist cut
him, taking away
small pieces
that were in the
way, to give him
more beautiful
forms. Then he
rounded off the
edges. And,
using a metal
sandpaper, he
smoothed out the
whole piece.
After finishing
his work, the
artist washed
the piece,
making it clean
and shiny.
Anyone passing
by could not
help but admire
the beautiful
masterpiece that
had become that
chunk of marble.
Noticing the
admiration in
everyone that
passed by the
artist's
workshop, the
marble felt
happy but
curious!
- How do I look?
- thought the
piece of marble.
Until, being
taken to a
larger and more
beautiful room,
where the other
pieces that the
artist had
created were, he
wished to see
how he had
turned out after
so much work and
suffering.
The artist
looked around,
trying to figure
out the best
place to put his
masterpiece, and
when he found a
great spot he
thought was
perfect to
expose it, he
took his new
piece of art
there.
At one place,
very visible to
anyone who
entered the
store, the
artist put his
newest creation.
Then he walked
away and stared
from afar,
marvelled at how
beautiful and
well-placed it
looked in the
room so that
everyone could
see it when they
entered the room.
But the curious
new piece still
did not know how
it looked.
Suddenly he
looked to one
side and was
delighted with
what he saw:
- How
wonderful!
- he
exclaimed.
The
artist,
who was
nearby
and
examining
him,
smiled
and said:
- Do you
like
what you
see, my
little
piece of
marble?
- Yes,
it is
wonderful,
master!
But who
is that
standing
there
before
me?
The
artist
smiled
and
explained:
- Do you
not
recognise
yourself
in that
beautiful
work? |
 |
- Me? Are you
sure, sir?
- Undoubtedly,
my little marble.
You are the most
beautiful piece
I could ever
create.
And the
beautiful marble
smiled and
enchanted with
the image of
himself
considered:
- Thank God! I
feel very happy
for all the
suffering I have
experienced
during this
time. My tears
were well spent,
giving me a
beautiful and
elegant
appearance.
Thank you very
much, my artist.
I will always be
grateful to you
for having made
me so beautiful!
I will never
complain of the
aches and pains
I have suffered.
MEIMEI
(Message
psychographed in
Rolândia -
Brazil on
29/08/2016.)
